The 2014 Formula One Chinese Grand Prix takes place on Sunday at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Designed by Hermann Tilke, the circuit opened in 2004 and held its first race the same year. This will be the 11th running of the Chinese Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are the only drivers to have won the event more than once, both owning two victories. Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have also won here.

The two Mercedes cars have dominated F1 so far this year.

Can they add to their tally, or will someone else record a shock win?

Read on for current standings, a track map and guide, tyre and DRS information, weather forecast, odds and the all-important TV and session times.

Shanghai International Circuit Track Map and Guide

The Shanghai International Circuit was built at a cost of 2.6 billion yuan (then £200 million) between 2003 and 2004, on swampland near the Chinese megacity.

It was designed by Hermann Tilke.

The circuit features the track architect's standard fare of a few hairpins and an incredibly long straight, which should suit the Mercedes teams.

Because it's on a former swamp, some of the corners need regular checks for subsidence. Three were relaid in 2011, but none have needed attention in 2014.

Turns 1, 2, 3 and 4

A lap begins on the pit straight, with a medium-length run down the first corner, Turn 1.

This is a magnificent corner which is tough to get perfect. The drivers turn in at over 300 kilometres-per-hour and gradually bleed off pace as the corner curls around on itself like a snail shell.

At over 270 degrees this right-hand corner represents the biggest direction change of any turn in F1. It's so long they gave it two numbers, so it counts as Turns 1 and 2.

After seven seconds of careful braking and throttle-feathering, the drivers are down to around 100 kilometres an hour at the end of the corner. But they get little respite, because Turn 3 follows immediately.

A tight, slow hairpin left, the corner requires a rapid change of direction. The layout means a car could go around the outside of the first corner and have the inside line here. This is especially true on the first lap.

Turn 3 leads into a more open, wide left (Turn 4) which sends the cars out onto a short straight.

Turns 5 and 6

Turn 5 is a full-throttle right-hand kink which causes no one any problems, then shortly after comes heavy braking for the right-hand hairpin of Turn 6.

This is a possible overtaking spot, especially if a driver got out of shape defending through the opening sequence.

The exit represents another passing opportunity, especially for a car on fresher tyres.

Turns 7, 8, 9 and 10

From a driving point of view, the next section is perhaps the most interesting.

Turn 7 is a long, fast left-hander, with a rapid direction change at the exit into a slightly slower and shorter but still quick right.

Speeds through these two corners should be a little lower this year than they were in 2013, due to the reduced downforce levels.

The fast sequence ends with Turn 9, a tight left-hander. The drivers brake for this corner barely a second after the exit of the Turn 8, and it's not unusual to see someone get it a little bit wrong on the entry.

Turn 10 is a relatively straightforward left-hand kink, which should cause few problems, and a medium-length straight follows.

Turns 11, 12 and 13

Braking for Turn 11, a tight left-hander, is quite hard but the preceding straight isn't really long enough for this to be a prime overtaking location.

Turns 12 and 13 form one very long corner.

Turn 12 is a tricky, medium-speed right. The apex is very early, and the drivers have to wait for what seems like an age before hitting the throttle pedal.

A good exit from Turn 12 is essential as the drivers dive into the long right-hander of Turn 13. This corner was full-throttle in 2013 but a bit of feathering might be necessary this year.

It leads out onto the extremely long back straight.

Turns 14, 15 and 16

The drivers enter the back straight doing in excess of 230 kilometres an hour. Thirteen seconds later they'll be doing around 325 kilometres an hour before braking just 120 metres before the tight right-hand hairpin of Turn 14.

This is one of the best places all year to see the truly awesome power of an F1 car's brakes as over 250 kilometres an hour are scrubbed off in just three seconds.

It's also the best overtaking spot on the circuit.

Turn 15 isn't really a corner at all, but like in Bahrain (look at the final turn) it seems Tilke was paid by the corner.

After a short straight comes the final corner, Turn 16, a very tricky, medium-speed left. The drivers need to be very precise when hitting the apex, or they'll find themselves taking a trip across the run-off at the exit.

The circuit drops downhill a touch, and the start-finish line is around halfway down the pit straight.

Pit Lane

The pit lane entry is straight on at Turn 16, and the exit is just before Turn 1.

Odds

Unsurprisingly, the two Mercedes drivers are way out in front in the betting.

Lewis Hamilton, twice a winner here, is the favourite, but Nico Rosberg has won here too.

The 10 with the shortest odds to win are:

Lewis Hamilton

5-6

Nico Rosberg

2-1

Sebastian Vettel

18-1

Daniel Ricciardo

28-1

Fernando Alonso

40-1

Nico Hulkenberg

40-1

Felipe Massa

40-1

Valtteri Bottas

40-1

Jenson Button

50-1

Kimi Raikkonen

66-1

Selected Others

Pastor Maldonado (12-1) leads the way in the betting to be first retirement. Next up are Jules Bianchi, Romain Grosjean, Marcus Ericsson and Kamui Kobayashi (all 14-1). No retirements is 33-1.

A safety car appearance (6-5) is considered marginally less likely than no appearance (4-6).

While everything else seems to be going wrong at Maranello, there is at least one glimmer of sunshine. Ferrari's mechanics (6-4) are strong favourites to perform the race's quickest pit stop, ahead of McLaren (4-1) and Red Bull (5-1).

All odds taken from Oddschecker.com and correct at the time of publication.